The price of a good deal!

Before

After 

It has been a long time in the waiting, but we finally have a new table!  It is beautiful.  It is big and it is just what we have wanted for a long time.  The design of the table was inspired by our friends Bill and Sarah Ramirez, so we get to think of them every time we sit at our table.  You have to understand, though, that this table comes with a story... The end product can be attributed to Sam.  He is the man and it is thanks to his persistence and patience that we have what we have.  So, here's the story... We had the table made here by a carpenter that Sam found.  We started back in January.  He said it would take 3 weeks, so I assumed 4-5 weeks would be about right.  Two months later, no table delivered.  Sam put the pressure on, and last week, he delivered the chairs.  Later that afternoon, the table arrived, and at 10:00 p.m. he brought the china hutch over.  Except, there were a few things not quite right.  The china hutch had no glass shelves, no glass in the doors, no handles and no latches on the doors, oh, and no stain on a couple of spots.  Details, just details.  So, the next day Sam and my dad worked amazingly quickly (since we had small group in our home that night) to put in glass, and install handles.  After that, my mom and I worked to get everything into the hutch and the table in its place.  Beautiful!!!  Two days later, the carpenter (who had even asked for a tip) showed and was amazed that Sam had done all that work.  But, he was here most of the day working on "details" on the table.  At Sam's insistence he made the mechanism for enlarging the table so that we don't have to climb under the table to get it to work and keep track of some pegs in order for it to work.  He stained the spots that were not done and my nice white tablecloth in the drawer.  Finally, he also shortened the table a bit since it was so high.  

It only took two months, a long day and sawdust in our house, be we have a beautiful table and chairs.  Just what we wanted, and we did get a good deal compared to everything we had looked at.  So, we are thrilled and can't wait to share it with our friends

.  Come visit us and we will feed you at our new table!

China hutch

Happy people at the table

Oh, yeah, blogging...

I forgot I was supposed to be blogging every now and then...Life has been busy and I get easily distracted.  I think I will be a perfect candidate for old age senility or maybe it's just a little adult ADHD or just keeping track of four little ones and their trains of thought!

So, we have been doing well.  My parents, sister-in-law, Chris and her kids Alexander and Elizabeth arrived today for a short visit.  We are very excited about having them here and spending some time with us.  Olivia has been fascinated with the idea of "Xander" coming and remembering how she bit him over Christmas. 

 It has been a daily topic of conversation since December! We are really hoping she is past that; otherwise, it might be a rough visit for her.  It should be a fun few days!  Victoria and Sofia are bummed that they have school all week while

 family is here, but mom is feeling generous and 

they may just get to skip a day!

I have been having an ethical dilemma.  Several months ago, I went to see the movie Mamma Mia and really really enjoyed it.  It was funny and I loved the songs -entertaining and took me down major memory lane.  Victoria had seen the previews and thought it would be a great movie to see, especially since I told her that I knew all the songs.  Well, after seeing it, I didn't think that the subject matter -- a girl trying to decide who of 3 men was her father, since her mother had slept with all of them and didn't know herself, was appropriate for a 10-year-old.  Really I wasn't up for the challenge of explaining it all out.  So, in spite of her insistence, I said no.  Well, about a month ago, she went to a friend's birthday party and sleep over.  When she got home, she was singing all the songs and proudly informed me that they had watched the movie and she loved it!  Man!!!!  I reluctantly rose to the challenge of explaining the situation and why it wasn't a good one.  My question is, now that she has seen the movie, can I watch it with her and enjoy it or should it still be off limits?!  Tough choice...